Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State, North Central Nigeria, has issued an Executive Order prohibiting the mopping up and buying of food in mass quantities in local markets in the state.
The governor stated this in a press briefing on Monday at Government House, Minna.
He said the activities of the syndicate, which specialised in mopping up food items in the markets, were responsible for the breach of peace in Minna on Monday morning after inciting some youths and women that trucks meant for the city were being diverted to other places outside the state.
Bago said, however, that the proactive intervention of security operatives prevented the looting of the trucks as planned by the syndicate as the trucks took another route.
“The syndicate of food speculators is also involved in mopping up chickens, local fowl, and goats. This is causing an astronomical hike in food items in our local markets,” he added.
The Governor said the executive order has empowered traditional rulers and local government councils to prevent such brisk businesses and prosecute offenders, adding that calm has returned to the city.
Recall that earlier on Monday morning, women in large numbers took to the street of Minna, the Niger State Capital protesting what they called the bitting hardship and rising cost of living.
The protest reportedly started when a group of women blocked Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu Roundabout to lament the sufferings in the land.
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